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Scarce and Desirable Winchester Model 1873 "1 of 1000" Lever Action Rifle. . ...
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Sold on Jun 19, 2023 for:
$81,250.00
Bid Source: Live: Floor bidder
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Description
"The Gun That Won The West!"
Scarce and Desirable Winchester Model 1873 "1 of 1000" Lever
Action Rifle.Serial no. 31271, 44-40 WCF, 30-inch octagonal barrel engraved in script "One of One Thousand" at breech [top flat]. Blued finish with case-hardened frame. Second model, with thumbprint dust cover. Silver bands on muzzle and breech near frame. Full magazine with screwed in plug. Beach combination front sight [bent], semi-buckhorn sight and a tang sight [3 3/4-inch]. Crescent buttplate, no cleaning rod present in trap. H-style checkering on wood. One of three early Factory letters from Winchester Gun Museum in New Haven CT, this one dated May 3, 1967 addressed to David E. Cumberland state: "The Winchester Model 1873 serial number records list number 31271 as a rifle, 30" octagonal barrel, casehardened, checked stock and set trigger. Marked, "1 of 1000". It was shipped from the factory on November 20, 1878, no other information or description is listed. / Sincerely yours, T.E. Hall, Curator [signed]." This gun is listed by serial number in James Gordon's book, Winchester's New Model of 1873, Volume II. According to the Winchester book on 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100's by Edmund E. Lewis , This rifle was part of a shipment of six consecutive 1 of 1000 rifles, #31266, #31267, #31268, #31269, #31270 and #31271 shipped on November 20, 1878 [order #13488]. Keep in mind, this particular one was the only one with a 30-inch barrel. Also, guns in the same shipment as this one are mentioned in R.L. Wilson's book titled; Winchester, The Golden Age of Gunmaking and The Winchester 1 of 1000.
Included in the sale is also a binder from previous auction house; well made documenting the history of this Winchester serial no. 31271, detailing history and related information to 1 of 1000's in general.
Please note: The Winchester Model 1873 was made famous among collectors when Universal Pictures was filming and made Winchester '73 starring Jimmy Stewart. Stewart stars as a man intent on recovering his prized 1 of 1000 Winchester rifle from thief Stephen McNally. Over 720,000 Winchester Model 1873 were made, out of that production only about 133 were manufactured as 1 of 1000's examples.
Condition: Good to very good for this model, but with moderate handling / storage wear overall. Approximately 20-30% bluing on barrel. Case-hardening mostly worn/absent, but framed turned almost a bright patina overall with scuffs and mars. Edge wear overall to metal and wood, with moderate pitting overall, with stronger indications on underside and buttplate. Magazine tube refinished at some point, retaining most of current but thinning finish. Stocks refreshed. Mechanically sound, bore ok. Collection of a Southern Gentleman.
Auction Info
2023 June 19 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature® Auction #6271 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2023
19th
Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,025
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